The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently revisited Nigeria to promote the use of E10—a blend of 10% ethanol with gasoline—in the country's fuel mix. This follows a successful initial program in November 2023. Despite Nigeria's 2007 attempt to implement an E10 policy, which was quickly suspended, interest in the ethanol blend is growing.
USGC's latest mission focused on reiterating the benefits of reintroducing an E10 mandate to key Nigerian government stakeholders. It aimed to build technical understanding of the ethanol supply chain and establish connections with major industry players, including the Dangote oil refinery, gasoline importers, and retail station representatives.
Ramy H. Taieb, USGC's regional director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, shared insights from the team's visit to Dangote refinery. Discussions covered the refinery's operations, blending capacity, and technical hurdles in loading and discharging operations. Dangote refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, operates at 325,000 barrels per day and plans to double this output. The distribution of its production between the domestic market and exports is subject to ongoing discussions with the Nigerian government.
The Council also hosted a technical workshop at the NNPC retail depot in Lagos, addressing fuel standards and specifications, vehicle compatibility, ethanol blending systems, and challenges related to water tolerance and phase separation. The workshop, attended by Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and NNPC staff, was part of USGC's efforts to enhance the technical capacity of key players in Nigeria's ethanol and E10 supply chain.
USGC's continued engagement in Nigeria and West Africa aims to advocate for the octane and environmental benefits of ethanol, supporting policy development and market growth for biofuels in the region.
